🌍 Fellowship in West Africa 🌱 Women Leaders on Human Mobility and Climate Change ♀️ (Fully funded)

Are you a young woman leader in West Africa ready to shape gender-responsive solutions to climate-driven migration? The Women's Fellowship on Human Mobility in the Context of Climate Change (HMCCC) is a fully funded regional leadership programme empowering young women across the ECOWAS region.

The Challenge

The ECOWAS region is experiencing increasing climate-related human mobility challenges, disproportionately affecting women due to systemic inequalities. Despite their vital roles in resilience-building and adaptation, women are often underrepresented in climate-migration policy frameworks. The Women's Fellowship on HMCCC aims to empower women leaders from the ECOWAS region with knowledge, tools and platforms to lead policy dialogues, implement solutions, and build inclusive networks for sustainable, climate-resilient development.

About the Fellowship

The Women's Fellowship on HMCCC is a regional leadership and capacity-strengthening programme designed to empower young women across the ECOWAS region to advance gender-responsive solutions to climate-induced human mobility challenges. Implemented by the Women Environmental Programme (WEP) under the GIZ-led Human Mobility in the Context of Climate Change (HMCCC) Programme, the fellowship seeks to strengthen women's participation in climate and migration policy processes, support community-led initiatives, and foster regional collaboration among emerging women leaders. It is funded by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, co-financed by Swiss Development Cooperation (SDC), and commissioned by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), Germany.

Objectives

💪 Strengthen women's leadership and participation in climate mobility governance and policy processes.

🌍 Build the capacity of young women to address climate-induced migration and displacement through gender-responsive approaches.

🌱 Support fellows to design and implement community-based pilot projects that address climate mobility challenges.

🤝 Foster regional collaboration, peer learning and knowledge exchange among women leaders across the ECOWAS region.

📢 Increase women's representation in regional and global climate, migration and development dialogues.

✊ Also in the region, open in 🇸🇳 Senegal: ESC Volunteering in 🇸🇳 Senegal – ActionAid Humanitarian Volunteering with Women's Groups and Climate Justice → https://youthworkshub.org/20142

Duration and Format

🗓️ Duration: 6 months (July to December 2026).

💻 Format: hybrid, combining a virtual orientation, in-person training and mentorship.

Phase 1: Recruitment, Orientation and Capacity Building

🎓 Selected fellows participate in a fully funded training workshop covering Climate Mobility in West Africa, Gender Mainstreaming in Climate and Migration Policy, Policy Engagement and Advocacy, and Leadership and Community Impact. Training sessions are delivered by regional experts and mentors, with simultaneous interpretation and bilingual learning materials available in English and French.

Phase 2: Mentorship and Pilot Project Implementation

🧑‍🏫 Individual mentorship: each fellow is matched with an experienced mentor based on thematic interests and language preference, and receives monthly coaching and technical guidance to support their growth and project implementation.

💶 Pilot project grant: fellows are eligible to receive a grant ranging from USD 500 to 1,000 to implement a community-based pilot project or research initiative. Examples of eligible projects include gender-responsive climate mobility research and case studies, community-led climate resilience initiatives, awareness and education campaigns, policy advocacy and evidence-generation projects, and livelihood and capacity-building initiatives for vulnerable groups.

Phase 3: Participation in Regional and Global Events

🌐 Outstanding fellows may be supported to participate in regional and international policy and advocacy platforms, including climate, migration and gender-focused events. Support may include pre-event coaching and preparation, policy brief development support, networking opportunities, and interpretation and language support.

Community of Practice and Alumni Network

🔗 Following completion of the fellowship, fellows join a regional Community of Practice and Alumni Network, providing access to continued peer learning opportunities, quarterly knowledge-sharing sessions, networking and collaboration opportunities, and access to relevant regional and global opportunities.

Language Support

🗣️ All fellowship activities are conducted bilingually in English and French, with professional interpretation and translated materials provided throughout the programme.

🎨 Another fellowship worth your time: 🌍 Creative Arts Fellowship for Young Environmentalists – Protect the Ocean → https://youthworkshub.org/20457

Who Can Apply

👩 Young women aged 18 to 35 from ECOWAS Member States who are passionate about climate action, human mobility, gender equality and community development.

🌟 Candidates should have demonstrated leadership experience in climate change, migration, gender advocacy, environmental sustainability, youth engagement or community development, and be actively engaged in community initiatives, civil society, research, policy advocacy or related fields.

💡 Applicants should have a project idea or ongoing initiative that addresses climate-related human mobility and can be further developed through the fellowship, be committed to influencing policy and driving community impact, be available to fully participate in all fellowship activities, and possess good communication skills and a willingness to engage in cross-cultural and multilingual collaboration.

Application Requirements

📄 Applicants must submit the following documents compiled into a single Word or PDF file: a Motivation Letter outlining interest in the fellowship and how it aligns with personal and professional goals (maximum 1 page); a Curriculum Vitae highlighting relevant experience and achievements (maximum 2 pages); and a Brief Project Proposal describing an initiative to be developed or scaled during the fellowship (maximum 3 pages).

Eligible Countries

🌍 Open to young women from ECOWAS Member States: 🇳🇬 Nigeria, 🇬🇲 Gambia, 🇬🇭 Ghana, 🇱🇷 Liberia and 🇸🇱 Sierra Leone (Anglophone); 🇧🇯 Benin, 🇨🇮 Côte d'Ivoire, 🇬🇳 Guinea, 🇸🇳 Senegal and 🇹🇬 Togo (Francophone); and 🇨🇻 Cape Verde and 🇬🇼 Guinea-Bissau (Lusophone).

How to Apply

Submit your application to the fellowship email using the subject line "HMCCC Fellowship Application – Applicant Name – Country" (for example, "HMCCC Fellowship Application – Amina Diallo – Senegal").